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Renowned engineer and education reformist, Sonam Wangchuk, has come forward to address the misrepresentation of his views in a viral video circulating just a day before the UT elections. Wangchuk expressed disappointment over the manipulation of his statements, clarifying his stance on the matter.
In a video response, Wangchuk expressed concern over the dissemination of a doctored video portraying him advocating for a plebiscite in Kashmir. He clarified that his original remarks were about every region's right to happiness and the possibility of a plebiscite if the people of Kashmir desired it.
Sad to see my statement being twisted beyond recognition. But I can totally understand how the doctored version of my video could be misunderstood when taken out of its context. Please spread truth not lies. Satyamev jayate https://t.co/v1RilzE5ZL pic.twitter.com/IopcPWq8M8
— Sonam Wangchuk (@Wangchuk66) May 20, 2024
Response from Netizens
The 14-second clip, extracted from an interview Wangchuk gave to Fourth Estate, sparked controversy as it misrepresented his stance on the Kashmir issue. Many netizens misinterpreted Wangchuk's words and labeled him as 'anti-national', prompting him to set the record straight.
CHINESE AGENT finally EXPOSED
— Gaurav Pradhan 🇮🇳 (@OfficeOfDGP) May 19, 2024
When he opened his mouth after Rahul Motorcycle trip to Leh, I told you Sonam Wangchuk is a Chinese agent on 30 January 2023. https://t.co/w2yXekmkGE pic.twitter.com/FKN7uYg71U
Sonam Wangchuk, the guy who lost his respect within minutes pic.twitter.com/Za0maoP7q8
— Lohpurush (@lohpurush_stark) March 28, 2024Environmentalist cum propagandist Sonam Wangchuk in Leh demanding a plebiscite for Kashmir.#ShameOnWangchuk pic.twitter.com/UJ5YnhNLeG
— Shivam Chaudhary (@shivamch_) May 20, 2024
In a candid post, Wangchuk expressed his dismay over the distortion of his statements, emphasizing his unwavering support for Ladakh's statehood. He cited a recent statement by a politician from Kargil, highlighting the ongoing struggle for statehood in Ladakh. He said he understands how the doctored version of his video was misunderstood by viewers who started trolling him by terming him as 'anti-national'.
Responding to concerns raised by the Kargil politician Sajjad Kargili, Wangchuk reiterated his support for Ladakh's status as a Union Territory (UT). He clarified that his remarks were not advocating for Ladakh's merger with Jammu and Kashmir or endorsing a plebiscite in Kashmir. Instead, he affirmed his alignment with the current government's stance on Ladakh's governance.
In a X post, Sajjad Kargili had wrote that, "Ladakh has been fighting for a four-point agenda for the last three years. It is said that @INCIndia has not clarified its position on statehood for Ladakh, which is not even addressed in their manifesto. Ladakh has been voicing for staehood in all its protests. Its necessary fot the government to decide: grant us statehood or completely merging #ladakh with J&K again reinstating statehood to #JammuAndKashmir. With this UT setup, people across Ladakh are not happy."
Replying to this, the environmentalist denounced this post, adding that while he may have his own opinions, if all other people and politicians from Kargil felt the same way, they can merge with Kashmir for their happiness, but Leh and Ladakh will remain union territories. He stated that he never intended to merge Ladakh with Jammu and Kashmir or to hold a plebiscite in Kashmir, but rather to support the current government's position on Ladakh, adding that Ladakh will remain a UT regardless of whether anyone wishes to join Kashmir.
Sonam Wangchuk's clarification serves to rectify the misinterpretation of his views on the Kashmir plebiscite issue. He reaffirmed his commitment to Ladakh's status as a Union Territory while dispelling any misconceptions arising from the viral video.
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